Sexual Behaviours Of University Students Essay Research

Sexual Behaviours Of University Students Essay, Research Paper

Sexual Behaviours of Students and Correlation with Other Behaviours

Students today are faced with different pressures coming from all aspects of their lives. We decided to focus our study on the sexual behaviours of students and how these behaviours relate to other aspects of their personal and academic lives. Interest was taken in how these areas would differ with relation to gender, age, and lifestyle. Interest was also taken in how alcohol affects these behaviours, and how these behaviours affect student s academic performance.

When we began our research, we hypothesized that males with a higher self-esteem in general, would tend to engage in sexual behaviours more frequently than those with a lower self-esteem. We thought that females with high self-esteems would engage in sexual behaviours less frequently than those with lower self-esteems. We also hypothesized that students for the most part would prefer to be in a sexual relationship as opposed to being single. We assumed that students living on their own would tend to be more promiscuous than those living at home. We also thought that a student s sexual behaviour would often be affected by alcohol regardless of whether they were single or in a relationship. We thought that our results would show that males became sexually active at an earlier age than females. We believed that males would be more sexually active than females and that males would be more likely to engage in more than one relationship at a time than a female would. Further inferences made about age in response to these questions were made and we believe that older students would be more responsible and conservative concerning these behaviours.

Methods

We distributed a written survey to a random selection of students throughout the Carleton University campus. We administered the survey in three different areas of the school to provide us with a diverse selection of students; in the Loeb building, University Centre and Southam hall. We also took care to approach the students at different times of day to allow us a greater probability of variety. Attention was taken in trying to ensure an equal selection of both male and female respondents. A total of 30 students were surveyed in all; fourteen females and sixteen males participants. We asked the respondents fifteen question about their sexual behaviours and some personal questions concerning their life and lifestyles as well as their feeling towards multiple issues. Incorporated into the survey was a disclaimer, so that the participants were guaranteed complete anonymity. Once they had finished the survey it was folded and placed into an envelope. This allowed them to feel comfortable in answering the questions with complete honesty and ease as possible. After the data was collected we tallied the results to see how sexual behaviours correlate with other attitudes and feeling of students.

Results

Of the 30 people surveyed the majority of the participants were between the ages of 19 and 21, this being the same for both males and females. In total, the ages ranged from 18 to 28. In the female category only one participant was 18, 3 were 19, 3 were 20, 5 were 21, one was 23 and the other was 25, this made for a total of 14 female participants. In the male section of our group, 2 participants were 19, 2 were 20, 4 were 21, 4 were 22, 1 was 23, 2 were 25 and one was 28.

Of the 16 males surveyed 31.2% were in their first year, 19% in their second, 19% also in their third and 31% in their forth. Of the 14 females surveyed 50% were in their first year, 29% in their second, 14% in their third and 7% in their fourth.

Of all the students surveyed 40% live at home and 60% live off campus. Of the males surveyed 50% live at home and 50% live off campus. Of the females 71% live off campus and 29% live at home.

When questioned about academic standing 16.67% of all participants said their average grade was an A, 56.67% responded B, 23.3% responded C and 3.3% responded D. Of the males surveyed, 19% stated their average grade was an A, 56% stated B, 25% stated C. Of the females surveyed, 14% were an average, 57% were B, 21% were C, and 7% were D.

When asked how they would rate their self-esteem in regards to personal and social life, the response was 46.67% of students felt great, and confident, 43.33% said they felt so-so, having good days and bad days, 10% of those surveyed said they are not good and are very self conscious. Of the female being surveyed 36% felt confident whereas males were 50%, 50% of females responded to feeling so-so having good days and bad compared to 38% of males, 14% of females responded that they are very self conscious and 65% of males responded the same.

When asked how these students rated their self esteem in terms of their academic performance. The totals for the group were 36.67% were confident in their academic performance. Of them 21% of females felt confident in their academic performance, and 50% of males also felt confident in their academic performance. In total 50% of the participants were in the mid-range with respect to their confidence in their academic abilities. Of males surveyed 38% fell in the mid range and 64% of females were also in this range. Finally, 13.3% of the subjects were not confident in their academic abili